Manchester City need one particular player back in midfield and they may have another solution to an issue

Manchester City need one particular player back in midfield – and they may have another solution to an issue

Manchester City’s season has reached a familiar but uncomfortable crossroads: the team still dominates possession, still controls territory, yet something vital is missing in the middle of the pitch. For Pep Guardiola, the answer is increasingly clear. City need Rodri back in midfield as soon as possible, and while they wait, they may have already uncovered an alternative solution to a growing tactical problem.

Rodri’s importance to Manchester City can hardly be overstated. The Spaniard is not just a defensive midfielder; he is the metronome, the shield, and the emotional anchor of Guardiola’s side. When Rodri plays, City look calm, balanced and ruthless. When he doesn’t, the entire structure becomes fragile. Transitions become harder to control, defenders are exposed, and City’s usual suffocating rhythm starts to break.

Recent performances without Rodri have highlighted this perfectly. City have still enjoyed long spells of possession, but they have struggled to slow games down when needed. Opponents have found spaces between the lines, counter-attacks have carried more danger, and the back four has been asked to defend far more than Guardiola would like. It is no coincidence that some of City’s rare dropped points or nervy moments come when Rodri is unavailable or not fully fit.

Guardiola has tried several options to cover the void. Mateo Kovačić offers technical quality and press resistance, but he lacks Rodri’s positional discipline and defensive authority. Matheus Nunes brings energy and ball-carrying, yet his decision-making in deeper areas is still developing. Even Bernardo Silva has been used centrally, sacrificing some creativity out wide to regain control inside. None, however, truly replicate Rodri’s unique blend of intelligence, strength and leadership.

That is why City are so desperate to have him back. With major fixtures approaching and the title race tightening, Guardiola knows that Rodri’s return could be the difference between dominance and vulnerability. His presence alone changes how opponents set up, often forcing them deeper and limiting their counter-attacking ambition.

Yet, while Rodri remains the ideal solution, City may have stumbled upon another answer to a different midfield issue: John Stones stepping into midfield once again. Guardiola’s hybrid defender-midfielder experiment has resurfaced, and it is beginning to show promise. When Stones moves into central areas during build-up, City gain an extra body in midfield without losing defensive solidity. His composure on the ball and tactical understanding allow City to overload the centre, recycle possession quickly, and protect against counters more effectively.

This adjustment does not replace Rodri, but it helps mask his absence. With Stones inverting into midfield, Kovačić or Silva can play slightly higher, while City’s full-backs hold wider positions. The result is improved control and a more stable rest-defense, something City have occasionally lacked this season.

In the long term, Rodri’s return remains the priority. He is irreplaceable. But in the short term, Guardiola’s tactical flexibility once again offers hope. Manchester City may not have their perfect midfield yet, but with Rodri nearing his comeback and Stones providing a clever alternative, the champions are quietly rebuilding the control that defines them.